Ex-Water Resources Minister, Sarah Ochekpe And Two Others Sentenced To Three Months Imprisonment

A Federal High Court sitting in Jos has on Tuesday sentenced a former Minister of Water Resources, Sarah Ochekpe, to three months imprisonment.

Ochekpe, who served as Minister under former President Goodluck Jonathan, was sentenced alongside a former chairman of the People Democratic Party in Plateau state, Raymond Dabo, and Plateau State Coordinator of Jonathan Campaign Organization, Leo-Sunday Jitong.

The three accused persons had been standing trial since 2018 in a case of money laundering and conspiracy brought against them by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission amounting to over N450 million.

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged them in 2018 with conspiracy and money laundering.

Delivering the ruling, Justice Musa Kurna, gave the convicts an option to pay a fine of N1 million each.

Ochekpe, Dabo and Jitung had entered a plea of no-case submission.

While sentencing the convicts, the judge held that after withdrawing the said amount from the bank, they did not withhold the money to themselves but delivered the same to a governorship candidate, as such were not guilty of retaining the sum for themselves.

Kurna however said they were guilty of withdrawing the N450 million which he said was above the threshold of an individual withdrawal.

He stated, the offence, which contravened the provisions of Section 16(1) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2013 as amended, is an offence that carries a minimum of three years imprisonment or a N10 million fine.

The judge, however, in his discretion sentenced them to three months imprisonment each or an option N1 million naira each.